Types of dementia

Dementia is an umbrella term for a range of progressive conditions, which means that the brain’s functioning will change over time. However, each type of dementia affects everyone differently and with the right support, it is absolutely possible to live well with dementia.

Today, you’ll find information about the most common types of dementia, the symptoms and the causes for each type, and how dementia care from Trinity can help manage progression.

The Difference Between Cortical and Subcortical Dementia

Medical professionals often categorise dementia into cortical and subcortical dementia.

Cortical dementia is typically associated with the brain’s grey matter, which is the characteristic outer structure of the brain. These outer structures play a crucial role in processing information and in functions such as language and memory. Types of cortical dementia include Alzheimer’s, frontotemporal dementia, Binswanger’s disease and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Subcortical dementia initially affects structures located below the cortex, specifically in the innermost parts of the brain, known as the white matter. These inner structures are responsible for controlling the speed of thought processes and emotions. Types of subcortical dementia include Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s dementia, and AIDS dementia complex.

The progression of dementia is not necessarily affected by category or type, but a variety of factors, including lifestyle, health and genetics.

Common Types of Dementia

To date, research has discovered over 100 types of dementia. The most common types of diagnosis in the UK are:

Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s is the most commonly diagnosed type of dementia in the UK. 60% to 80% of those living with dementia have Alzheimer’s, and this is perhaps why the names are often incorrectly used interchangeably.

With Alzheimer’s disease, abnormal proteins called plaques and tangles simultaneously damage the internal and external structures of brain cells. Over time, the damage caused by abnormal proteins disrupts the chemical connections between brain cells, rendering them unable to communicate information throughout the brain and body, and ultimately leading to the death of brain cells.

Symptoms specific to Alzheimer’s include:

• Memory problems, such as forgetting recent events, faces and names
• Repeating questions
• Difficulty organising and planning tasks
• Becoming confused in unfamiliar situations and environments
• Difficulty finding the right words
• Trouble understanding numbers or handling money
• Becoming more anxious and withdrawn

Vascular Dementia

When an individual experiences vascular dementia symptoms, it’s caused by the narrowing or blockage of blood vessels that restricts the blood flow and oxygen supply to the brain. With a limited oxygen supply, the cells in the brain are not able to respire, causing them to become damaged or die. The symptoms of vascular dementia can occur suddenly, following one large stroke, or they can develop over time, after a series of smaller strokes.

Vascular dementia can also be caused by a disease affecting the small blood vessels deep in the brain, known as subcortical vascular dementia.

Common symptoms of vascular dementia include:

• Stroke-like symptoms, such as muscle weakness or temporary paralysis in one side of the body
• Difficulty walking or a change in gait
• Trouble thinking, including attention, planning and reasoning problems
• Mood changes, such as depression or heightened emotions

Lewy Body Dementia (DLB)

Dementia with Lewy bodies is caused by abnormal protein structures called Lewy bodies (alpha-synuclein) that appear in nerve cells in the brain. Researchers don’t yet have a full understanding of why Lewy bodies appear, but DLB is linked to low levels of important chemicals, such as acetylcholine and dopamine, that carry messages between nerve cells, causing a loss of connections between nerve cells.

Lewy bodies disrupt the cells’ ability to transmit information around the brain and body, causing them to die.

Many of its symptoms are similar to those of Alzheimer’s, but individuals may also experience:

• Fluctuating levels of confusion
• Periods of being alert and drowsy
• Movements becoming slower
• Repeated falls or fainting spells
• Sleep disturbances, which can exacerbate symptoms

Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD)

The name ‘frontotemporal’ comes from the areas of the brain which are affected. With frontotemporal dementia, the buildup of abnormal proteins inside the nerve cells in the front and side areas of the brain interrupts communication between cells, reducing the information sent throughout the brain and body, and eventually causing the cells to die.

Two-thirds of people with FTD are diagnosed with behavioural variants. Unlike Alzheimer’s, the early stage of behavioural FTD doesn’t affect day-to-day memory or perception. During the early stage of behavioural FTD, changes in personality and behaviour become noticeable.

There are additional types of frontotemporal dementia, both of which impact the brain’s language functions. These difficulties with language become apparent slowly, often over a couple of years:

• Aphasia: Language loss with common symptoms including difficulties in speech production such as stuttering or mispronunciation, grammatical errors and impaired understanding.
• Semantic dementia: Although speech may be fluent, vocabulary begins to decline, and symptoms include confusion regarding the meaning of familiar words, difficulty finding the right word, and recognising familiar objects.
• Motor disorders: About 10% to 20% of people with FTD also develop a motor disorder, which causes difficulties with movement. These motor disorders include motor neurone disease, progressive supranuclear palsy and corticobasal degeneration.

These three conditions share similar symptoms such as twitching, stiffness, slow movements and loss of balance or coordination.

As the FTD progresses, more of the brain becomes damaged, and the differences between the types of FTD become less obvious. Later stages of FTD begin to share symptoms with Alzheimer’s disease, such as confusion, disorientation, memory loss and changes in behaviour.

Mixed Dementia

With mixed dementia, more than one type of dementia occurs simultaneously in the brain. The most common types of dementia to occur simultaneously are Alzheimer’s disease (caused by abnormal proteins called plaques and tangles, which destroy nerve cells in the brain) and the blood vessel changes associated with vascular dementia. ]

However, several types of dementia can often coexist in the brain, such as Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia, and dementia with Lewy bodies.

How Dementia Care from Trinity Homecare Can Help

At Trinity Homecare, we take pride in providing bespoke, comprehensive care to clients with dementia and their loved ones. We’ll match you with one of our fully trained, compassionate carers experienced in dementia care, ensuring you receive tailored care specific to your type of dementia.

Our care plans are personalised to each client, but generally, our dementia care service includes:

• Assistance with daily tasks, such as dressing, oral hygiene and bathing
• Encouragement with hobbies and social outings
• Transportation to and from appointments and activities
• Symptom monitoring and management
• Compassion and emotional support
• Emergency support

Whether you or your loved one requires live-in or visiting care, Trinity fosters independence and upholds dignity throughout our care service and the condition’s progression.

Talk to Trinity Homecare Today

If your loved one requires home care, chat with one of our friendly care team today. We offer a free, no-obligation enquiry and assessment service and are happy to offer information and advice to help you find the perfect home care solution.

Call us on 0207 183 4884 in confidence for a free no obligation quotation. If enquiring outside of our opening hours, please complete our online form and we will contact you the next day.